Episode 8: ... How It's Going

The Watchung Booksellers Podcast

We launched the Watchung Booksellers podcast with "How It Started": an episode with Margot Sage-EL, the owner, now owner emeritus, of Watchung Booksellers, reflecting on the last 30 years of the business. Today we take a look at how it’s going with Maddie Ciliotta-Young, who left a career in education to take the reigns on running the bookstore, in conversation with her friend, filmmaker Contessa Gales. One year into the opening of the Kids' Room, Maddie talks about the career transition, reading, and the need for diverse books in schools and in store.
Guest bios:
Maddie Ciliotta-Young is the owner and operator of Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ. Maddie grew up in Montclair and at the bookstore with her mom, Margot. After college she was a teacher and principal for over a decade at a New York City public high school. As a school administrator, Maddie had a focus on equity for underserved schools and a passion for teaching literacy. She joined the Watchung Booksellers team in 2022 and when she’s not in the store she can be found enjoying Montclair’s restaurants with her husband or on the soccer field cheering on her two children.

Contessa Gayles is a non-fiction film director, writer, cinematographer, editor and an Emmy-nominated producer. She tells stories about identity, socio-political movement, healing, Black liberation and the radical imagination. Her forthcoming feature documentary visual album, Songs from the Hole, world premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, Visions category. Her documentary short, Founder Girls, which was executive produced with Queen Latifah, premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and broadcast on BET. Previously, she was a producer at CNN, where she created, directed, produced, shot and edited award-winning original series and documentaries, including the feature documentary, The Feminist on Cellblock Y.
Books:
A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available here.
Resources:

Scholastic Diversity in Book Fairs Controversy

Barnes & Noble tries to Go Indie
Register for Upcoming Events.
The Watchung Booksellers Podcast is produced by Kathryn Counsell and Marni Jessup.

Recording and editing by Timmy Kellenyi, Bree Testa, and Derek Mattheiss at Silver Stream Studio in Montclair, NJ.

Original music is composed and performed by Violet Mujica.

Art & design and social media by Evelyn Moulton.

Research and show notes by Caroline Shurtleff.

Thank you to the staff at Watchung Booksellers and The Kids’ Room for their hard work and love of books!

If you liked our episode please like, follow, and share!

Stay in touch!
Email: [e-mail]
Social: @watchungbooksellers
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on our shows, events, and book recommendations!

Chapters

1. Generations of Bookstore Legacy (00:00:11)

2. Empowering Literate Communities Through Books (00:09:49)

3. Community Impact of Independent Bookstore (00:23:33)

4. Fostering Diversity and Community in Bookselling (00:29:07)